Animating mechanism for signs



June 17, 1941. R U, SEARES ANIMATING MECHANISM FOR SIGNS 2 Sheets-Sheet l .zQ/CHABD 07 SEA 2E5,

Filed March 11, 1939 INVENTOR [WM M A TTORNEKS" June 17, 1941. R. u. SEARES 2,245,940

ANIMATING MECHANISM FOR SIGNS i-iled Marrh 11, 19:59 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 17, 1941 Application March 11, 1939, Serial No. 261,248'

7 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to displays or signs of the type used for advertising purposes, and more particularly to'supporting and animating mechanisms therefor by which motion is imparted to one or more portions of the sign, signs of this type being referred to generally as animated because the movement of thevarious parts produces the appearance of animation of the sign.

One of the general objects of my invention is to provide a supporting and operating mechanism for signs which produces a pleasing and novel motion or motions of one or more portions of the sign, in order to impart to the advertising copy motion that arrests the attention and attracts the eye of members of the public.

It is another object of my invention to produce a supporting and animating mechanism for a sign which is adapted to produce a plurality of difierent resultant motions which may be utilized individually to impart motion to different portions of the same sign, and which have a common component and yet diifer in part to produce relative motion between adjacent parts of the sign or display.

Another object is to provide a simplified supporting and animating structure for signs that is relatively inexpensive, rugged in construction, and simple to maintain.

These objects of my invention have been attained by providing a stationary supporting structure upon which is mounted a frame that is adapted to carry one or more signs located in various positions. similar to a universal joint, are provided to mount the frame on the support in a manner that permits oscillation of the frame about two angularly disposed axes, preferably mutually perpendicular. Movement of the frame with respect to these axes is obtained by some suitable drive means,

such as an electric motor, which is preferably adapted to drive a crank arm attached to the frame and moving the frame at the connection to the crank in a circle about a third axis substantially perpendicular to the first two axes.

How the above, as well as other objects and advantages of my invention are attained will be more easily understood by reference to the following description and the annexed drawings, in

which: 7

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammaticperspective elevation of a sign supporting and animating mechanism constructed according to my invention, the signs themselves being removed for Suitable mounting means,

' ternative form of connection between the frame simplicity of illustration, but possible locations of signs being indicated by dot-dash lines;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a modified form of sign utilizing a part of the motions possible with the form shown in Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary section through the sign of Fig. 2 as on line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section showing an aland drive means.

The drawings of Fig. 1 are intended to illustrate more or less diagrammatically the features of my invention, and consequently the various component parts of the sign supporting and animating mechanism are shown in simplified and typical forms which may be varied widely in construction and shape to accommodate the invention to any desired sign. For purposes of illustration, no signs have been shown mounted on the movable frame, but possible locations of such signs have been indicated.

. The apparatus of Fig. 1 comprises a stationary support, indicated generally at In, in the form of an inverted U-shaped member resting upon base I l The exact shape of this stationary support is immaterial and it may comprisea plurality of members; or it may be a horizontally extending member in the event that it is desired to mount the sign-carrying frame on 'a vertical wall or the like. If desired, one or more brackets l2 may be attached to stationary support II] for the purpose of carrying fixed or stationary signs, a typical one of which may be represented by the dot-dash rectangle l4.

' There is indicated generally at IS a frame of any suitable construction and design adapted to carry one or more signs. The frame shown, which is typical of suitable constructions, comprises a pair of triangular end members l6 connected together by longitudinal "members l1 at the lower sides of the frame and longitudinal member 18 at the top.

Frame I5 is mounted upon support If) by any suitable mounting means, preferably of the universal joint type, that permits the frame to oscillate about two angularly disposed axes with respect to the support. A simplified form of such frame mounting means is indicated generally at 2B, and comprises a central block from which extends a pair of diametrically opposite bearing members 2| by means of which the mounting means 20 is pivotally or rotatably connected to may be utilized to change the vertical side members of support ID. The members 2| define a substantially horizontal axis 22 about which both mounting means 2|] and frame |5 oscillate with respect to stationary support ID. This axis 22 is fixed because members 2| have only rotational movement with respect to stationary support I0; and axis 22 is normally horizontal, or substantially so, although it will be understood that the axis may be inclined or even vertical. Any desired type of bearing may be used to mount members 2| on support H].

A second pair of bearing members 24 extends outwardly from the center block of mounting means 20 at right angles to axis 22 and provides means for pivotally connecting frame to mounting means 20, the connection between the frame and members 24 being at any suitable location on the frame and of any suitable type that permits relative rotation of the frame with respect to the members 24. The pivotal connecting-members 24 define a second axis 25 which moves as mounting means rocks about axis 22 at the center, but axis is, like axis 22, referred to for purposes of description as being substantially horizontal since it ordinarily occupies a horizontal position, or substantially one, at the center of its swing. Axes 22 and 25 are perpendicular to each other, or substantially so, and are coplanar to intersect one another at 26 in the preferred embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

However, it will be understood that it is not necessary that axes 22 and 25 be coplanar, since one may be vertically spaced from the other; nor is it necessary that they be mutually perpendicular, since they may be angularly disposed obliquely to each other. Either of these changes may be made without departing from the principles and fundamental motions of my invention, but the motion produced at any point 'on frame |5.

The drive means indicated generally at 30 is typical of various suitable types of drive mechanism, and comprises motor 3| with a speed reduction assemblag e 32 adapted to rotate vertically extending drive shaft 33 of which the vertical axis 34 is'substantially perpendicular to both axes '22 and 25 and intersects both of these axes. When axes 22 and '25 intersect each other as at 26, then axis 34'passes through point 26 of intersection. The upper end of drive shaft 33 carries crank 35 and inclined crank pin 36 which is rotatably connected to longitudinal member I8 of frame ='|'5 in any suitable fashion. The inclined axis 31 of crank pin'36 preferably passes through the common intersection '26 of axes 22, 25, and 34.

When in operation, drive shaft '33 rotates about its vertical axis 3'4 and moves crank'pin 36 in a circular path around'vertical axis 34. The axis of crank pin 36 being inclined as shown, axis 31 describes a cone of revolution about axis 34; and it .is preferred that axis 3'! be inclined with respect to axis 34 in order to eliminate binding in the journal bearing type of connection between pin136 and member 18 of frame l5. If some other type of connection having self-aligning characteristi'cs be used at this point, provision may be made for relative angular movement between the driving member and frame member l8, and as a consequence axis 31 may be vertical.

The'circular motion of pin 36 moves the frame at its connection to the crank pin in a substantially circular path around axis 34, the frame having substantially no vertical movement at th s point. The motion of the frame as a whole may be described as a gyratory motion about a center established by intersection 25. In greater detail, the resultant motion of the frame may be considered to be a compound motion whose components are motions of simultaneous oscillation about the two mutually perpendicular axes 22 and 25. The component of motion of crank pin 36 parallel to axis 22 causes frame l5 to rock or oscillate about axial members 24 and axis 25,

as indicated by the arcs at 45] and 46a. The component of motion of pin 36 parallel to axis 25 causes frame I5, as well as the mounting means 20, to rock or oscillate about axial members 2| and axis 22, as indicated by the arcs at 4| and Mo.

As a consequence of this gyratory motion of frame l5, different types of compound motions may be imparted to signs mounted on the frame according to the location of the sign with respect to the frame. For example, if a sign is mounted on the end of the frame parallel to the plane of triangular frame member It in a position indicated by the dot-dash rectangle 45, the sign has a resultant .motion produced by oscillation of the-sign in a substantially vertical plane about axis 25 as indicated at 40c combined with a substantially vertical oscillating motion'of the sign bodily about axis 22 as indicated at 4|, the latter of which motions may be described as a nodding motion. If the sign is placed on frame l5 in a position parallel to longitudinal members I1 and H3 in the location indicated by dot-dash rectangle 46 the same general type of motion results because the same components are present. The exact motion of sign 46 will differ from that of sign 45 when there is any difference in the radial distances of the two signs from axes 22 and 25, or any diflerence in relative position of the signs with respect to the two axes.

While the same two components of oscillatory motion about axes 22 and 25 combine to produce a compound motion of a sign located above frame l5, as a vertical extension of member l8 indicated by dot-dash rectangle 4i, yet to an observer at one side, the predominant motion is the oscillation of the sign about axis 22, since the oscillation about axis 25 simply moves the sign toward and away from an observer standing along the prolongation of axis 22. If the entire sign-supporting mechanism is rotated through degrees, as previously suggested, so that stationary support l0 becomes horizontal, then a sign mounted on frame |5 in the position indicated by dot-dash rectangle 48 (the top horizontal surface of frame 15 as in Fig. 1) will appear to movein a circular path about axis 34 with the radius depending upon the distance the sign is removed :from the intersection of axes 22 .and 25. r

Additional motions and combinations of motions may be obtained by extending axial members 2| and 24 of mounting means 20 out beyond framel5 and providing these axially extending members wtih some means, such as brackets 4'9 upon which additional signs may be mounted. A sign thus mountedon member 2| in a position indicated by the dot-dash rectangle 50 rocks about axis 22 which isperpendicular to the plane of the sign, while a different motion is imparted to a sign mounted on the end of mem ber 24 in a'position indicated by dot-dash rectangle 5 l since, although the motion is also about axis 22, the axis is now parallel to the general plane of the sign and the sign may be said to substantially a comm producing relative mo grammatically by t 'fied form of my inventi the motions of the sign nod. From this it will be seen that signs at 50 and 5| each have one component of the motion of signs at 46 and d5 respectively. This condition may be utilize-d, for example, by placingsigns at both 45 and 56, preferably in substantially the same frontal plane, in which case both ,signs 45 and 5| move with a nodding motion, butin addition sign 45 rocks about axis25, and the additional motion produces a relative movement between the two signs. A similar relative 'rnotion takes place between a sign at 5|! an'd one *at 46. The two signs are in each instance preferably in on frontal plane toiobtain an improved appearance. This relative 'I'novement between two signs may be utilized to secure apparent animation of various portions of ajfigure or the like which composes a single display that moves as a whole.

From the foregoing it will be seen thatthere may be mounted upon the sign supporting and animating mechanism a plurality of signs'invarious locations to i i part different motions to these signs, each of the signs oscillating about one or both of aXes 22 and 25. In'one aspect? those signs viewed at the same time may constituteiridependent signs from the standpoint of the advertising matter displayed thereon; or'in'another aspect, a plurality of signs, as at 45 and 5|,i'nay be placed in close proximity and combine'dfso that from the standpoint of an observer they constitute separately movable parts of the same display. In either event, all. the signs or parts of the display have one component of'motion in common, while another sign or portion of 'the' display has an additional component of motion, thus tion between individual tions of the display taken as a whole. Since the size andshape of the signs and the character displayed thereon ma constitute no essenti vention, signs have disclosing the broad typical locations hav signs or individual por y be varied infinitely and al portion of the present innot been illustrated in Fig. 1 aspects of my invention, but e merely been'indi'cated diahe use of the dot dash rec?- tangles, although it will be understood thatsuch indications of the signs in nowaylimitth'eir shape or location.

There is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, and 4a modion in which signs'having s 45 and 5l'of Fig."l are located in substantially a common frontalpla'ne to form a single display, the two partsof which have relative movement with respect to each other. As shown in Fig. 3, the stationary support ill in this modified form of my invention comprises an upright hollow pipe resting on any suitable base. Frame mounting means 20 includes horizontally extending shaft 55 passing entirely through the pipe of the suppor The ends of shaft 55 carry suitable bearings 56, preferably of the ball or roller type, by means of which ring 5? surrounding stationary support H) is rotatably mounted upon shaft 55. The frame mounting means also includes two diametrically opposite stub shafts 60 attached to ring 57 and provided at 6! with suitable bearings by means of which frame 55 is rotatably mounted upon the two shafts 60.

By means of this construction, frame l5 and its mounting means 26 are pivotally connected to support it! to oscillate about the fixed substantially horizontal axis 220; and frame I5 is pivotally connected to mounting means 26 to oscillate with respect thereto about the movable axis of the advertising matter 25a. which intersectsaxis 22a and is also substantially horizontal although it is adapted to swing through a limited arc. This universal joint type of mounting means permits frame I 5 to oscillate simultaneously about both axes 22a and 25a.

The construction details of frame l5 are of no particular importance, since they may be varied. The frame shown in the drawings comprises 'two pairs of channels 63 joined together at right angles, the frame being mounted by bearings 6| located at this junction of two channels 63. The two pairs of channels 63 are joined together by braces 64 between the outstanding W "legs of channels 63, braces 64 serving also to 15' hold the pairs of channels properly spaced from each other. A pair-of angle members 65 and 66 be'n't'intd concentric circles are mounted at each side of the frame by braces 61. Each two angles 65 and 65 support an annular sign 68, as shown particularly in Fig. 2, there being one sign 68 on each side of the frame. A cover member 69 around the outside of the frame is attached to angle 66 to protect the sign interior againstthe ent'ran'ce of dirt and moisture, it being under- 5 stood thatcover 69 is cut away at the bottom to permit necessary motion of the frame with respect to stationary support IQ.

'Each'of the two axially extending stub shafts 'GD'fi'seXtended outwardly beyond frame 15 and bearings 6!, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and carry "on "this extension a sub-frame, indicated at I6, which may be of any suitable construction. Subfranie' 10 includes a circular angle member ll, cohtientridwith angle member 65, and spaced radially' inward therefrom. A circular sign 72 is mounted, as shown in Fig. 3, on the outside face --or sub-frame H3 by attachment to ring Tl. Signs "68 and 72' 'on' the same side of frame 15 are 10- cated 'substantially in a common frontal plane 40 and constitute together a single displayor sign 's'iii ce'they' carry related advertising matter. A similar display is formed on each of two sides, one side being shown in Fig. 2, although the advertising matter on the two sides may be the same ordifferent. V

" The"dri ve means 36 is substantially the same asalready described, and comprises a motor 3| with a speed reduction head 32 driving a vertical shaft'33 whose axis. 34a is substantially'per- 2a and a and pendicular to both of axes 2 passes through the intersection 26a of theseaxes. 'Crank'35 is attached to drive shaft 33 and carries inclined crank pin 36 having an axis 31a which also preferably passes through point 26a. 55 Crank pin 36 is connected to frame l5 by a suitable self-aligning bearing structure 14 on one of braces 64, it being preferred that pin 36 be capable of limited axial movement with respect to the bearing 14.

By analogy with th 60 e form of invention disclosed in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the motion of signs 68 and 72 produced by rotation of shaft 33 and crank is the same as the combined nodding and oscillating motion of signs and 5|. The entire display formed by signs 68 and 12 oscillates about the fixed horizontal axis 22a through the arc indicated at 15. In addition to this motion, the outer annular sign 68 oscillates on shaft about axis 2511 through an are as indicated in Fig. 2 by arrow 76. The sign 68 moves with respect to the inner sign 12 by the amount of this additional component of motion represented by are 16.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of connection between frame l5 and crank 35 of the drive 4- means 30. In this form, the cylindrical crank pin 35 is replaced with a post having a ball 18 on its upper end that is received in a cylindrical socket 19 on brace 64. This type of ball-andsocket connection allows not only angular movement of brace 64 with respect to arm 35, but also Vertical movement. Because of these fully self-aligning characteristics, the axis 80 of post 18 may be vertical or parallel to axis 34a. Al-

though shown as applied to the embodiment of,,10

Figs. 2-4, this modification can also be applied to the embodiment of Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description of certain typical embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that the construction and arrangement of parts may be the subject of many changes without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; and consequently it is to be understood that the drawings and description are to be considered as illustrative of, rather than re-t adapted to carry one or more signs; mounting;,3,5

means for mounting the frame on the support for oscillation of the frame about two intersecting and mutually perpendicular axes; and drive means for moving the frame including a crank and a crank pin revolving about an axis substan r tially intersecting and perpendicular to both said axes of oscillation of the frame, the axis of the crank pin being inclined to and intersecting said axisof its revolution.

3. A supporting and animating mechanism for signs comprising a stationary support; .a frame adapted to carry one or more signs; mounting means for mounting the frame on the support and comprising means pivotally connecting the mounting means to the support to oscillate abouta first axis and means pivotally connecting the frame to the mounting means to oscillate about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis; and drive means for moving the frame comprising a crank revolving around a stationary.-;

axis, a crank pin moving in a circular path with mounting" 2 5 substantially;;,30

the pin axis constantly inclined to said axis of revolution, and a bearing rotatably connecting the crank pin to the frame and maintaining the pin and frame in a fixed angular relation to each other. i

4. A display structure comprising a statonary support; a frame adapted to carry one or more signs; mounting means for mounting the frame on the support for oscillation of the frame about two perpendicular, generally horizontal axes; drive means for moving the frame; and a plurality of signs mounted on the frame in diflerent positions with respect to the axes, each sign oscillating about both of said axes but with a different motion.

5. A display structure comprising a stationary support; a frame adapted to carry one or more signs; mounting means for mounting the frame on the support for oscillation of the frame about two perpendicular, generally horizontal axes, said mounting means including an axially extending member adapted to carry a sign; drive means for moving the frame; and signs mounted one on the frame and one on said axially extending member, each of said signs having a different resultant oscillatory motion with respect to said horizontal axes.

signs; mounting means for mounting the frame on the support for oscillation of the frame about twoperpendicular, generally horizontal axes said mounting means including an axially extending member adapted to carry a sign; drive means for moving the frame; a sign mounted on the frame in a position for oscillation about both said axes; and a second sign mounted on said axially extending member in a position to oscillate about only one of said axes.

'I. A display structure comprising a stationary support; .a frame adapted to carry one or more signs; mounting means for mounting the frame on the support for oscillation of the frame about two perpendicular, generally horizontal axes said mounting means including an axially extending member, adapted to carry a sign; drive means for moving the frame; a sign mounted on the frame in a position for oscillation about both said axes; and a second sign mounted on said axially extending member in a position to oscillate about only one of said axes extending substantially parallel to the plane of the second sign, both said signs lying substantially in a common frontal plane.

RICHARD U. SEARES. 

